THE BOYHOOD OF JESUS
How the Lord Jesus Went to a Feast at Jerusalem for the First Time.
And his parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up after the custom of the feast; and when the feast was over, as they were returning, the boy Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not; but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's journey; and they sought for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance: and when they found him not, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking for him.
And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them, and asking them questions: and all that heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
And when they saw him, they were astonished: and his mother said unto him, "Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I sought thee sorrowing."
And he said unto them, "How is it that ye sought me? knew ye not that I must be in my Father's house?"
And they understood not the saying which he spoke unto them. And he went down with them, and came to [{50}] Nazareth; and he was subject unto them: and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
The New Testament tells us very little about the boyhood of Jesus, but fortunately we know from other sources much of the life of children in Palestine in those days. Among the earliest memories of the boy Jesus must have been the tender voice of his mother, as she sang or repeated to him the beautiful songs which we call psalms, and told him those wonderful stories of the heroism and faith of his ancestors, of which we read in the Old Testament. When he was five or six years old, he began to go to school. There he sat on the floor with the other little children of the village, forming a semicircle about their master. He was taught at school to read and write, and to repeat from memory large portions of the Old Testament. He no doubt had a boy's gladness in freedom and play when school was out. It must have been very pleasant to sit in Joseph's shop, and watch the shavings curl from the plane, to see the wood fashioned into various shapes of usefulness. When he grew older he learned the carpenter's trade in this shop. Every Jewish boy had to learn a trade. The home life was very simple. The family was poor, and it was not always easy to make both ends meet. Jesus no doubt helped his mother about her work, especially in drawing water from the village well. Every Sabbath he went to the village church, or synagogue, as it was called, and listened attentively to the service. In the village he often caught glimpses of the outside world, for Nazareth was on one of the main caravan routes. Here he would see merchants from the far East, strange, bearded, swarthy men with trains of camels, laden with bundles of precious merchandise, rugs, and gems, and sweet smelling sandal wood. Here he might see a company of Roman soldiers, marching under command of a centurion, short, stern men, helmeted, with shining armor, sword, and spear, in perfect discipline, showing the pride of the race which had conquered the world by force of arms. Here he saw, too, the poor and the suffering, the beggar, the outcast.